We first encountered the charity Beyond Limits as service users in July 2017. I’ll always remember pulling up to Ken & Susan’s beautiful farm, with gardens and trees and such a lovely sense of peace of serenity, which helped ease the nerves or worry we were both feeling.

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During the following two years, there were many occasions where we leant on their shoulder in times of financial difficulty, starting with their free emergency food parcels, and then their wonderful events. I suffer from complex mental health issues, including agoraphobia, so I was initially very apprehensive to attend their Summer Fete. I was so scared on the day but both Tim, my lovely partner and carer, and I attended. It was the first social outing we’d attended together in years. We had a wonderful time and it marked a very important step forward for us.

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In the run-up to their Christmas event in 2019, Beyond Limits posted on their website that they were looking for help to support families going through trauma. I had always dreaded Christmas as it was a time of great sadness not getting to see my two youngest children, but I found the courage to attend the event. It was a penny drop moment for me that completely changed my perspective of Christmas, from being a time to grieve into a time to give. The experience also helped me looking more outward into the world and other people’s needs instead of being locked in my own pain.

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My partner started volunteering by putting together Food Parcels. It was so rewarding for him and, despite not being able to help myself on account of my regular seizures, I felt proud that we were contributing and fast becoming valued and welcome members of the Beyond Limits family.

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Beyond Limits needed support and volunteers more than ever during COVID 19. They were distributing a record amount of food, care and cleaning packs to the needy and those shielding. My partner stepped in to sort through website posts listing all the people in need, people offering any sort of support from food packers to drivers, to ensure nothing was missed.

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I was finally able to join Tim once a week with emergency care and food packages and he would deliver them to people’s homes. Volunteering was a revelation to me. Despite the scary circumstances and the stringent need for social distancing, it bought unity, laughter, and a sense of belonging. Helping others is very self-fulfilling but becoming part of the Beyond Limits family has enriched my life beyond words. I’m no longer shy away in the house, I think of others needs and try to help to the best of my ability.

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So, whatever your situation or health condition there is a place for everyone and the way we can all contribute. My health condition means I am able to attend occasionally but my help is always met with genuine gratitude. I call out to you all to consider volunteering. It has changed our lives and is the most rewarding thing I’ve achieved. Beyond that, you build strong bonds through mutual enthusiasm, caring for each other and our surrounding community.